Picture taken September 1889

Hit on all pictures to get larger image

The Picture above is of Alejo de la Garza ( 1836 - 1900) and Macedonia
Palacios ( 1839 - 1915). They were husband and wife and lived in what is
now Brooks County, Texas. Alejo was born in Victoria, Texas sometime after
the Texas War for Independence. His Father, Jose Julian de la Garza y Guerra
was killed by Indians on his Rancho in June of 1836 and his mother died
during his birth. My research on Alejo has still not told me where he went
and who cared for him after his parents both died. The main body of the
original Mexican settlers of Victoria ( the De Leon, Benavides and de la
Garza Families ) traveled to Louisana after Texas independence because
of anglo Texian deprediatons upon the Mexican populace. Their lands were
taken over during these dangerous times and with the change in government
it was convenient for the authorities to claim the lands that had been
settled by the founders of Victoria Colony. There were two possibilites
of what could have happened to the Alejo, one is that he went to Louisana
with the Victoria group and the other is that he went south to the Camargo,
Tamaulipas area to be with his older half sisters. One of them, Antonia
de la Garza previously married to Agapito De Leon and later married to
a prominent citizen of Camargo, Matias Ramirez could have cared for him
to adulthood. Later we know from early Starr County records and later Brooks
County records as it was formed that he settled in the Falfurrias, Texas
area. Land was purchased to raise stock and a way station built to serve
travelers between the salt mines near Falfurrias and Mier, Camargo area.
Land holdings were purchased from the original grantees and a sizeable
ranch was built. There is evidence that Alejo borrowed money from English
sources that were lending funds in the area. His family and workers are
listed in the U.S. census of 1870, 1880 and 1900. Alejo is buried in the
family cemetery on what was his rancho, "Los Tajitos" and his wife Macedonia
is buried in San Diego, Texas.

Amado de la Garza's oldest daughter, Alicia de la Garza, married Maximo
Perez. Maximo Perez's maternal grandfather was Manuel Garcia Garcia and
his paternal Great Grandfather was Inocente Perez. Manuel Garcia was originally
from Camargo, Tamaulipas, Mexico and settled in Concepcion, Texas. Manuel
established a ranch by purchasing land and raised cattle and sheep. His
cattle and sheep brands were registered in San Diego, Texas on June 12,
1878. The above link will show what they registered.

A footnote added from the above note as to Alejo's growing up years
after both of his parents died is a message sent to me by a fellow researcher,
Homero Vera of the El Mesteno Magazine. Homero published in his magazine
the story of Alejo and gave a copy to Don Ernesto Garza Saenz, El Cronista
de Camargo, Tamaulipas. After reading the story, Don Ernesto related
to Homero Vera, that his ancestor and brother of Julian, Apolinario de
la Garza raised Alejo and his brother to adulthood. In Julian's will
it does state that Apolinario is executor of his brother's estate.
This will lay to rest where Alejo was raised until he married and moved
to the Falfurrias - Concepcion, Texas area until better facts are found.

This is a picture of the restored way station on the Los Tajitos
Ranch, that was mentioned above.

The family grave site on Los Tajitos Ranch where Alejo, 3 of his
children and his in-laws are buried.

Alejo's son, Amado de la Garza and his wife Maria Gutierrez

Seabury Papers

The following is family tree compiled by the attorney Francis Seabury during
1900 on Julian de la Garza y Guerra and his brothers. It lists Alejo and
his family in the entry compiled from records of The Seabury Papers from
the University of Texas Collection at the Eugene C. Barker Library in Austin,
Texas. SEABURY PAPERS P. 316 FAMILY TREE OF JULIAN de la GARZA GUERRA Julián
de la Garza was owner of Porcion 84 and 1/5th of Porcion 85. His brothers
Gregorio Apolinaro, Manuel, and Antonio de la Garza were owners of 4/5ths
of Porcion 85, jurisdiction of Camargo. Porcion 84 had Ventura Vela as
original grantee and it was sold to his son Refugio Vela who sold it to
Julián de la Garza on May 26, 1818. The heirs of latter have said
they still own same. Julián left a will done November 7, 1825 in
which he states his 1st wife died March 14,1822 and that this property
was aquired during that marriage. Sets out names of 1st 9 children ( another
child of 1st marriage, María Eugenia died an infant) as below, others
born since will made see p. 366 for his ancestry. Declares that his 1st
wife was a daughter of Richard Vela and María Josefa García
and that his second wife was a daughter of José Ignacio de Benavides
and María Matiana de Villareal.